New to this community and this thread has been incredibly helpful! We're dealing with a very similar situation - our SAI is $31k but my daughter's top choice school costs $57k with only $7.5k in federal loans offered. Like everyone else here, I initially thought the SAI meant that's what we'd pay and the school would cover the rest somehow. Reading through all these responses has been both eye-opening and reassuring that we're not missing something obvious. The middle-class squeeze is so real - too much income for significant need-based aid but nowhere near enough to actually afford these costs. I'm planning to try the appeals process and look into professional judgment reviews based on all the advice here. We have some documentation of childcare expenses for my younger son that weren't fully captured on the FAFSA. One question for the group - for those who've gone through appeals, did you find it more effective to call first or submit everything in writing? Also, has anyone had experience with schools adjusting aid packages based on changes in family circumstances that happened after filing the FAFSA? Thank you all for making this overwhelming process feel more manageable. It's comforting to know we're not alone in this struggle, even though it's frustrating that so many families are dealing with these impossible gaps!

I'm new to this community and going through the exact same nightmare! Our SAI came out to $30k but my son's dream school costs $61k with only $6.5k in federal loans offered. I've been losing sleep for weeks thinking we must have made some error on our FAFSA or missed something obvious. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I had no idea that SAI just represents what the federal government calculates we can theoretically contribute, not what schools are actually required to help us with. The reality of these massive unmet need gaps for middle-class families is both eye-opening and terrifying. I'm definitely going to try the appeals process and professional judgment review based on all the excellent advice shared here. We have some significant medical expenses from my husband's chronic condition that weren't fully captured on our FAFSA, so hopefully that documentation could help our case. For those who've successfully navigated appeals - did you find it helpful to have all your documentation organized before making the initial call to the financial aid office, or is it better to call first to understand exactly what they'd want to see? Also, we're still waiting to hear from three other schools - should I wait for those offers before starting appeals, or begin the process now? Thank you all for sharing your experiences and making this overwhelming process feel less isolating. It's both comforting and concerning to realize how many families are stuck in this same impossible situation!

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to resolve this? I had a thought that might help. If you go into your student's account (not the parent's FSA ID), then navigate to the application, sometimes more options appear that aren't visible from the parent login. Also, try using a different browser completely - I've found Chrome works better than Safari for the FAFSA site.

That's great news that you got it resolved! For anyone else reading this thread who might be dealing with similar FAFSA contributor issues, here are a few additional tips that have helped other families: 1. Try accessing the FAFSA from different devices - sometimes mobile vs desktop shows different options 2. If you're still stuck, document everything with screenshots before calling FSA support - it helps them understand the issue faster 3. Consider calling early in the morning (around 8 AM EST) when wait times tend to be shorter 4. Have all your tax documents and FSA IDs ready before calling so they can fix everything in one session The 2025-2026 FAFSA definitely has more bugs than previous years, but most issues can be resolved with persistence. Don't give up - your daughter's financial aid is worth the hassle!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As a parent of twins who will both be starting college within the next two years, I'm taking extensive notes on all the strategies and terminology shared here. The evolution from Eva's initial frustrating "we'll see" response to this comprehensive masterclass in financial aid navigation is exactly why I love this community. What strikes me most is how much the right approach matters - using specific terms like "outside scholarship displacement policy" and "COA adjustment process," framing conversations around budgeting needs rather than general curiosity, and timing these discussions strategically to avoid the summer rush. These insights could save families months of frustration and potentially thousands of dollars. I'm particularly grateful for the insider perspective from @Mateo Martinez about packaging philosophies and the tip about requesting revised award letters before funds are processed. Having twins means I'll likely be dealing with multiple schools and different policies, so understanding these nuances upfront will be crucial. The practical details shared here - from setting up direct deposit early to checking individual scholarship terms directly with organizations - are exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't find anywhere else. This thread should be required reading for any family navigating college financial aid!

This thread has been such an incredible resource! As someone who's just starting to research colleges with my daughter who's a high school junior, I had no idea that excess scholarship money could be such a complex issue. The fact that schools have different "displacement policies" and that timing can affect whether you get a refund versus having institutional aid reduced is eye-opening. I'm especially grateful for all the specific terminology everyone has shared - asking for "outside scholarship displacement policy" and "COA adjustment process" rather than just general questions about excess funds seems to make all the difference in getting substantive answers from financial aid offices. The tip about speaking with a "financial aid counselor" specifically rather than general staff is also really valuable. @Eva St. Cyr - your daughter is so fortunate to have such a proactive advocate! Between all the strategies shared here (getting policies in writing, starting COA adjustment conversations early, checking individual scholarship terms, etc.), you're now armed with exactly the right questions to ask. I hope your follow-up conversations go much more smoothly and that she gets to benefit from all her hard work earning those scholarships. This entire discussion has been like a masterclass in financial aid navigation - thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and expertise!

As someone who went through this process two years ago, I want to add that you should also consider reaching out to UW's Office of Student Financial Aid via email in addition to calling. Sometimes it's easier to get a response that way, and you'll have a written record of your communication. When I appealed, I included a detailed budget breakdown showing exactly where the financial gap was - tuition, housing, books, etc. - and how much additional aid I needed to make attendance feasible. Also, don't be discouraged if your first appeal isn't approved for the full amount you requested. You can sometimes submit additional documentation or clarification if new circumstances arise. The retirement distribution situation you mentioned is definitely a valid reason for appeal since it's not representative of your ongoing income capacity. Make sure to emphasize that this was a one-time event and provide documentation showing your family's typical annual income without it.

I went through a similar appeal process at another state university last year and wanted to share what worked for me. The key things that seemed to make a difference: 1) I submitted everything early (mid-April), 2) I was very specific about our changed circumstances with exact dollar amounts, and 3) I included a letter from my parent's financial advisor explaining why the retirement withdrawal was necessary and wouldn't happen again. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - if UW has a "Professional Judgment" process (many schools do), ask specifically about that when you call. It's sometimes a separate track from regular appeals and can be more flexible for situations exactly like yours where there's a one-time income spike that doesn't reflect your actual ability to pay. Also, don't forget to look into emergency grants or hardship funds that might be available through UW's financial aid office. These are often separate from regular aid and can help bridge gaps while you're waiting for your appeal decision. Good luck - your situation with the retirement distribution sounds like exactly the type of circumstance these processes are designed to address!

This thread is incredibly valuable! As a newcomer to the FAFSA process with my first child applying next year, I'm honestly shocked at how broken the system seems to be. The fact that @Olivia Clark had to try 8 different times and couldn't even get through to customer support is mind-blowing. I'm definitely saving all these troubleshooting tips - especially the 24-hour wait trick and using desktop Firefox instead of mobile. It's ridiculous that parents have to become tech support experts just to sign a financial aid form, but at least this community is sharing real solutions that actually work!

As another parent just starting this process, I'm genuinely terrified after reading all of this! My daughter is a junior now so we'll be dealing with FAFSA next year. The fact that the "simplified" system is causing more problems than the old one is so typical of government tech rollouts. I'm already planning to create our FSA IDs early and make sure we have completely separate email addresses. Question for those who've been through this - is there any particular time of day that seems to work better for the electronic signature? Like are the servers less overloaded at certain hours?